Weekend guide: National Cherry Blossom Festival

WASHINGTON – Spring has arrived reluctantly this year, but temperatures are finally starting to rise and that means it’s cherry blossom time.

Spend this Easter weekend strolling with your loved ones and checking out the sites.

Kick off the National Cherry Blossom Festival with a music and dance party in Southeast D.C. Friday night. “Cherry Blast” offers a multimedia experience complete with performance art, live DJs and plenty of drinks. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online here.

If you’re too tired from dancing the night away, hop on a boat for a river tour of the cherry blossoms. Trips are available all weekend, and offer expert guides and panoramic views of the Potomac. Tickets must be purchased in advanced. Look up launch times and ticket info here.

Play the spy with SCVNGR, a smartphone app for iPhone and Android that combines the beauty of cherry blossoms with the intrigue of a scavenger hunt. Download the free app here courtesy of the International Spy Museum.

Don’t forget the weekend’s biggest event: the Blossom Kite Festival. Enjoy five different areas – competition and demonstration field, kite club display, activity tents, family field and public field – or fly your own creation. Get inspiration from kite experts and watch the pros compete from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday.